2 Students Bail Out on Brink of Niagara Falls : Attempt to Ride Falls in a Barrel Ends in Arrest

Two college students tried to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel today but bailed out at the last minute and were rescued clinging to a rock just 200 yards from almost certain death, officials said.

The two, identified as Harry J. Kallet, 20, of Syracuse and Michael J. Viscosi, 21, of Scotia, were listed in good condition at Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital after being plucked from a rock in the rapids.

The Niagara University students were treated for scrapes and a slight lowering of body temperature, a hospital spokeswoman said. She said they were given psychological examinations before being taken to a police station for booking.

Officer Ron McNamee of the Niagara Frontier State Park Police said the two were heading for the Horseshoe Falls in a barrel but bailed out when their oxygen failed and the barrel started to take on water.

Pulled Ashore by Police

They clung to a rock in the cold, rushing current about 100 feet from Three Sister Island for more than an hour before park police rescued them about 9 a.m. by pulling them ashore with safety lines, he said. An Army helicopter stood by but was not needed.

McNamee said the two face disorderly conduct charges and three other violations in connection with the attempted stunt. The charges could result in fines of $100 and up to 15 days in jail.

Viscoti said the two had planned the stunt for a year and wanted to be the first duo to go over the falls.

Asked why the stunt went wrong, Kallet said, “because we had to skimp on money.”

Booked in Hospital Smocks

“I thought we were going to go over the falls without the barrel,” Kallet added after arriving at police headquarters to be booked.

The two, dressed in hospital smocks and barefoot, said they did not realize that so many people would have to risk their own lives because of their attempted stunt.

The smashed barrel, which was recovered from the bottom of the falls by the Maid of the Mist tour boat, measured 10 by 5 feet and was made of fiberglass and aluminum, according to Oscar Kallet, Harry’s brother.